Embossed gloves with gripping features

ABSTRACT

A disposable glove having grip enhancing features is described. It includes an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a grip enhancing section having a grip enhancing pattern defined thereon. The grip enhancing pattern is formed from a diamond pattern embossed on said exterior surface of the glove. The diamond pattern comprises individual diamonds that are in close proximity to one another. The grip enhancing section comprises the exterior surface of said glove.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/554,976, filed Sep. 6, 2017, presently pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention is directed to a method and system for improving the gripping performance of disposable gloves.

2. Background of the Invention

Disposable gloves are frequently worn while performing tasks that require gripping. For example, disposable food handling gloves are frequently worn while handling slippery food preparation equipment or utensils. Further, in a food-handling setting, such gloves are worn when interacting with food containers, such as smooth plastic or glass containers. Handling such objects is further made difficult by the use of water—objects become much harder to grip while wet.

Outside of the food handling setting, disposable gloves are frequently worn in settings that require precise movements or tight grip on an item without applying excess pressure. For example, precise manufacturing tasks frequently require the donning of gloves, and also requires the use of tools and workpieces with smooth and therefore slippery profiles. Similarly, in a medical setting, an end user donning protective gloves still requires the ability to securely grip objects.

Therefore, a need exists in the art for a disposable glove which includes gripping features. The glove should be inexpensive to manufacture and use a single layer. The glove should include a tactile feedback surface that also includes high-performance gripping properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a disposable glove that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a disposable glove that enhances grip. A feature of the present invention is that the main body of the glove incorporates gripping structures. An advantage of the present invention is that the wearer can grip objects while wearing the glove.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a glove that enhances a wearer's grip regardless of where the wearer contacts the object. A feature of the present invention is that the glove incorporates the gripping features throughout the body of the glove. An advantage of the present invention is that the improved gripping performance is not dependent on the user donning the glove in a particular way or gripping the object in a specific area.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gripping glove with integrated stickiness. A feature of the present invention is that the gripping enhancing features cooperate with the composition of the glove to produce more than one feature that results in improved gripping performance. An advantage of the present invention is that the gripping performance of the disposable glove is enhanced both due to the composition of the glove and the shape of the glove.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a disposable glove which is cost effective to manufacture. A feature of the present invention is that the glove material can be shaped into the required shape using high throughput equipment. An advantage of the present invention is that the glove achieves improved gripping performance despite being a single layer glove.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a poly disposable glove. A feature of the present invention is that the glove film composition relies only upon polymeric materials. An advantage of the present invention is that it removes the need for latex or other additives to the material.

Another embodiment of the invention is to provide a glove with improved gripping features having a single layer. A feature of the present invention is that the glove employs only one layer. An advantage of the present invention is that it eliminates a distinct gripping layer.

Briefly, the present invention provides a system for designing an environment, the system comprising an interior surface; an exterior surface; a grip enhancing section having a grip enhancing pattern defined thereon; wherein said grip enhancing pattern comprises diamond pattern embossed on said exterior surface of the glove, wherein said diamond pattern comprises individual diamonds that are in close proximity to one another; and wherein said grip enhancing section comprises the exterior surface of said glove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention together with the above and other objects and advantages will be best understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overview one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the gripping physical features, in accordance with the features of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the steps in the manufacture of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a roller for embossing the gripping physical features in the manufacture of one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of the surface of the roller for embossing the gripping physical features in the manufacture of one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings.

As used herein, an element step recited in the singular and preceded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, the references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.

As described herein, one embodiment of the system comprises a designer of interior habitable spaces. However, the same design strategies can be used for any design task, including interior spaces, exteriors of buildings, design of new consumer products, the design of circuit elements, and other tasks.

Overview

An overview of a disposable glove pursuant to one embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIG. 1. The glove 10 comprises a main body 12 formed from a sheet 14 of a single layer poly material, described in detail below.

The sheet 14 is cut in a conventional glove shape, having an indentation 16 between the digit-shaped extensions 20 and the cuff opening 18. The digit shaped extensions 20 are separated by a troth 22. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the troth 22 is shown as having a sharp angle. In another embodiment, the troth 22 is rounded with more space between the digit-shaped extensions 20.

The glove 10 main body 12 includes an indentation 16 which is shown as a curved section 16. The curved section 16 aids in the donning of the glove 10. When an end user inserts their hand through the cuff opening 18, the curved section rests against the user's hand, keeping the glove 10 in place. In light of the curved section 16, the glove cuff opening 18 can be made larger, to make donning of the glove more efficient, while preventing the glove from slipping off while it is worn.

The glove 10 is shaped from single layer material 14. The single layer material is folded over, and a heated form in the shape of the hand is placed over the material, resulting in a seam 24. However, at the cuff opening 18 of the glove 10, the form is not heated, but rather comprises a sharp edge, resulting in an unsealed cuff opening 18.

The single layer material 14 has a design 26 embossed thereon. The design improves the gripping properties of the glove. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the design is embossed throughout the main body 12 of the glove 10. By creating the glove form a single embossed sheet 14, the manufacturing process is simplified and is cost-effective.

While in FIG. 1, the depicted glove is oriented for use with a left hand, the gloves are ambidextrous, in one embodiment and can be donned on either hand. In one embodiment, the glove may be donned on either hand by reorienting the glove.

The details of the gripping design 26 are shown in FIG. 2. The design 26 comprises an array 30 of diamond shapes 32. FIG. 2 depicts two adjacent diamond shapes, but the gripping design 26 comprises an endless array of the individual diamond shapes 32, in one embodiment.

Each diamond shape 32 comprises a raised edge 36 and a central plateau 34. The central plateau 34 is substantially flat, in the depicted embodiment. The raised edge 36 is considered raised in that it extends above the exterior surface of the glove 10 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the raised edge comprises rounded corners and is a small part of the overall design—generally only about 10% of the total area of each diamond 32.

The diamonds 32 comprising the array 30 of diamond shapes are closely packed. In one embodiment, the space between the diamonds is less than 5% of the width of each diamond.

While the diamonds are shown as substantially square, other shapes with a central plateau 34 are used in other embodiments, not shown. These include rectangular shapes, circular, and other shapes.

As shown in FIG. 2, each diamond 32 comprises a stand-alone shape. The diamonds are not formed by crossing lines nor do the diamonds share boundaries. This standalone shape allows each diamond's central plateau 34 to bulge up and down, resulting in improved gripping performance. When the glove main body comes in contact with an object, the raised edges 36 will reversibly press down, which causes the central plateau 34 to either bulge up or down. The resulting trapped air assists in the gripping performance of the glove, when repeated hundreds of individual times per each glove. The wearer's grip is thus greatly enhanced even when interacting with small or slippery objects.

Manufacturing Process

The manufacturing process 40 of a glove with a gripping feature pursuant to one embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. The process begins by extruding 42 a sheet of the poly material. Several formulations of the extruded material are described below. Initially, the material has a substantially smooth surface.

The diamond gripping pattern is embossed on this surface 44. In one embodiment, the embossing step 44 comprises contacting the extruded surface with an embossing pattern, showing the diamond shapes in FIG. 2.

In one embodiment, the embossing process 44 uses a single roller to emboss the diamond pattern onto the film of the poly material. FIG. 4 is an overall view of the roller 50. The roller 50 is installed in a frame 70. The frame includes elements, such as protrusions that allow the roller 50 to rotate around an axis α.

In one embodiment, the frame 70 includes a motor to allow the roller 50 to rotate around the axis α, the motor being attached externally to the frame 70 and in mechanical communication with the roller 50. In another embodiment, the roller 50 includes a heating element which raises the temperature of the surface 60 of the roller 50. The higher temperature of the surface 60 allows for faster transfer of the pattern on the surface 60 of the roller to the film in contact with the surface 60. However, the temperature increase generated by the heater must be limited to prevent the film from deforming or melting. As such, the heater includes a temperature probe and includes an indicator, such as a light in one embodiment, which shows the end user when the roller surface 60 has reached a suitable temperature.

The frame includes a number of vertical supports 72 that are capable of supporting the weight of the roller along with any feed stock.

The surface 60 of the roller 50 comprises a metallic material, in one embodiment. In other embodiment, the surface 60 also includes a non-stick coating suitable to the film that contacts the surface 60. The surface 60 is also selected so as to be easy to clean when necessary. The cleaning step is important so as to ensure that all structural details will be added to the film, and that none of the subparts of the surface 60 are filled in by left over material or other contaminant.

In one embodiment, the roller surface 60 includes an indicator as to when a cleaning cycle should be performed. In one such embodiment, the roller surface includes a color change area 74 that is sensitive to wear and a change of its appearance will indicate that the surface 60 requires cleaning or other reconditioning. In one embodiment, the reconditioning consists of reapplying a non-stick coating material.

FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of the surface 60 of the roller 50. The roller 50 has a metal surface 60. The surface 60 comprises an array 68 of diamond shapes 62 corresponding to the diamond shapes 32 (see FIG. 2) to be embossed onto the film. Each diamond shape 62 comprises a raised edge 66 and a central plateau 64. The central plateau 64 corresponds to the central plateau 34 of the diamond shape 32 to be formed on the film, and is substantially flat in the depicted embodiment. Likewise, the raised edge 66 corresponds to the raised edge 36 of the diamond shape 32. The embossing step 44 comprises pressing and rolling the surface 60 of roller 50 against one side of the film so that the other side of the film is embossed with the intended diamond shapes.

Alternatively, the surface of the roller may comprise an array of reverse diamond shapes that are complementary to the diamond shapes to be embossed on the film, so that it will emboss the intended pattern on the side contacting the roller surface of the film.

While the diamond shapes of the roller are shown as substantially square, other shapes with a central plateau are used in other embodiments, not shown, depending on the diamond shapes to be embossed. These include rectangular shapes, circular, and other shapes.

In another embodiment, the embossing process 44 uses two rollers in series. The first roller embosses the honeycomb design. This first roller features a metal surface and is chrome plated in one embodiment. The second roller is a silicone roller. The film which passes out of the embossing process 44 will have the grip enhancing pattern embossed on its surface. The depth of the embossing is determined by the distance between the first roller and the second roller. The embossing will be deeper as the rollers are moved closer together.

Once the gripping shapes have been embossed, the material is folded over 46, in one embodiment. In another embodiment, two individual layers are brought in proximity to one another. The glove shapes are subsequently welded over the poly layers 48. In one embodiment, the welding step 48 includes contacting the folded over film with a high temperature cutout for the desired glove sizes. In another embodiment, the welding step 48 comprises using a welding technique such as radio frequency welding.

Example Formulations

Several different formulations of the film may be used.

In one embodiment, the glove main body includes a low density polyethylene (LDPE) with the chemical structure of (—CH₂—CH₂-)_(n). The LDPE is in the form of granules without any color added. The melting point ranges from 104 to 115 degrees Celsius. In one embodiment, 2% of the overall composition is a blue master, 30% is the LDPE as described above, and 68% is a copolymer such as styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS). The copolymer is a hydrogenated styrene isoprene butadiene and acts as a block copolymer, in one embodiment, with trace amounts of antioxidant and anti-blocking agents. The glove resulting from this source material includes a blue coloring.

The SEBS material is used in this disposable glove adds to the stickiness of the outer surface. The combination of the SEBS addition and the diamond pattern results in improved gripping performance of the glove. The drawback of this addition is that while processing the film, the extruder machine must run at a slower rate. In one embodiment, the extruder machine runs at 85% of its regular rate while processing this SEBS containing film.

In another embodiment, the resulting glove is substantially clear. The glove also uses an LDPE base. The resulting film comprises, by weight, 10% of LDPE, 50% of the copolymer (SEBS) described above, and 40% of an ethylene based polymer, such as a metallocene polyethylene resin. The addition of metallocene ensures the manufacture of resins with a very high consistency and specific properties.

The various combinations used in conjunction with the novel shapes embossed on the main body of the glove result in a glove that has improved gripping performance. The composition of the glove provides more elasticity than vinyl. Therefore, the glove can be “sized down” to provide the end user a suitably tight fit. The composition of the glove also results in partial stickiness, where the glove will temporarily attach to the object being grabbed by the end user of the glove. This allows the end user to fully and securely grasp objects even when they are small or slippery objects.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. While the dimensions and types of materials described herein are intended to define the parameters of the invention, they are by no means limiting, but are instead exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.

The present methods can involve any or all of the steps or conditions discussed above in various combinations, as desired. Accordingly, it will be readily apparent to the skilled artisan that in some of the disclosed methods certain steps can be deleted or additional steps performed without affecting the viability of the methods.

As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, particularly in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” “more than” and the like include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. In the same manner, all ratios disclosed herein also include all subratios falling within the broader ratio.

One skilled in the art will also readily recognize that where members are grouped together in a common manner, such as in a Markush group, the present invention encompasses not only the entire group listed as a whole, but each member of the group individually and all possible subgroups of the main group. Accordingly, for all purposes, the present invention encompasses not only the main group, but also the main group absent one or more of the group members. The present invention also envisages the explicit exclusion of one or more of any of the group members in the claimed invention. 

1. A disposable glove having grip enhancing features comprising: an interior surface; an exterior surface; and a grip enhancing section having a grip enhancing pattern defined thereon; wherein said grip enhancing pattern comprises diamond pattern embossed on said exterior surface of the glove, wherein said diamond pattern comprises individual diamonds that are in close proximity to one another; wherein said grip enhancing section comprises the exterior surface of said glove; wherein said interior surface and exterior surface comprise different sides of a single layer; wherein said glove material includes grip enhancing additives.
 2. The glove of claim 1 wherein said glove comprises a polyethylene material.
 3. The glove of claim 2 wherein said glove is free of latex and vinyl.
 4. The glove of claim 1 wherein said grip enhancing pattern results in the exterior surface becoming temporarily adherent.
 5. The glove of claim 1 wherein said grip enhancing pattern is embossed on said exterior surface at time of extrusion of the glove material.
 6. The glove of claim 1 wherein said diamond pattern comprises tightly coupled individual diamonds wherein each diamond of said individual diamonds comprises a raised beveled edge and a substantially flat interior area.
 7. A method of producing a disposable glove having gripping features comprising: extruding a sheet of glove material; embossing the glove material with a grip enhancing pattern; folding the sheet of embossed glove material over on itself; and welding into the material multiple glove shapes.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said sheet of glove material comprises low sensity polyethylene.
 9. The method of claim 9 wherein said glove material excludes vinyl.
 10. The method of claim 7 wherein said sheet of glove material comprises a plastic material having a melting point from 104 to 115 degrees Celsius.
 11. The method of claim 7 wherein said sheet of glove material includes one or more dyes.
 12. The method of claim 7 wherein said sheet of glove material includes a copolymer which increases the stickiness of the glove material.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said co-polymer comprises styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS).
 14. The method of claim 7 wherein said grip enhancing pattern comprises a geometric shape.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein said geometric shape comprises a diamond pattern further comprising tightly coupled individual diamonds wherein each diamond of said individual diamonds comprises a raised beveled edge and a substantially flat interior area.
 16. The method of claim 7 wherein said embossing step comprises contacting the sheet of glove material with a roller having a metallic outer surface having the pattern embossed thereon.
 17. The method of claim 7 wherein said welding step comprises cutting out of individual gloves and simultaneously sealing the seams.
 18. A method of producing a disposable glove having gripping features consisting of: extruding a sheet of glove material; embossing the glove material with a grip enhancing pattern; folding the sheet of embossed glove material over on itself; and welding into the material multiple glove shapes.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein said sheet of glove material includes a copolymer of styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) wherein said copolymer increases the stickiness of the glove material.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein said embossing comprises a single step process of contacting the glove material with a roller. 